A woman has settled her compensation claim for pressure sore injuries that caused her mother significant distress in the final months of her life.

Ivy Jones (98) moved into the Carshalton Nursing Home in November 2012 after falling several times in her home in Mitcham, Surrey. At the time, Ivy was suffering from dry skin on both legs; but, within weeks of moving into the nursing home, Ivy developed pressure sores on both calves which caused her significant distress and intense pain when the dressings were changed.

Ivy´s relatives complained to staff at the nursing home, who escalated their concerns to medical professionals. However, Ivy´s condition deteriorated further and the family complained to a social worker, who arranged for Ivy to be moved to an alternative nursing home in January 2013. Ivy sadly died shortly after.

On the instigation of Ivy´s daughter, Shirley Dell, the nursing home´s licensing authority – Sutton Council – conducted an investigation into the standard of care at the nursing home. Finding that the “the quality of care fell below the acceptable standard”, Sutton Council placed an embargo on the nursing home until a new manager was put in place and the necessary improvements made in November 2014.

The investigation also concluded that more should have been done to prevent Ivy´s pressure sores and to obtain medical attention for her. Armed with this evidence, Shirley sought legal advice and made a compensation claim for pressure sore injuries to her mother. Liability for Ivy´s injuries was denied by the home´s owners, but eventually an out-of-court settlement of the claim amounting to £12,000 was negotiated.

Speaking after the compensation claim for pressure sore injuries to her mother had been resolved, Shirley told her local press: “I just wanted some form of justice for my mum. When they changed her dressings she used to scream in agony. It wasn’t right for her to suffer like she did.”